I'm loading up the family and driving three hours to visit the siter in law. We're then going to drive to Wyoming to see my parents, so they can spoil the kids and give us a ton of unsolicited advice. The evening with them will culminate with our traditional showing of Christmas Vacation, which we all know by heart, we've watched it for about fifteen years now. The wife thinks we should have a new tradition.

So what about you? What are you doing?

And no ConservPat, knocking on doors in Iowa for Ron Paul doesn't count bro.

I have a 4 and 7 year old- Christmas is all about them, I never even really liked the holiday- always saw it as a burden, and as a kid, my dad was a mean ol' bastard that took great delight in ruining it for everyone. Funny how kids can make that all go away, and thier innocence and joy makes it all good, and makes you remember the good christmas past here and there, and forget the bad stuff.

Christmas is my day of thanks to my children for making me a better person.

We're spending Christmas in Eastport, Maine. Right now we're staying with my ex mother-in-law. We could drive to Maine from Ohio in one day, but I decided to take it easy. Heh, she made roast pork for me, a not-so-American dinner around the holiday. Not as good as pork over an open fire, but the homemade chocolate chip cookies more than make up for it.

We leave for Maine tomorrow morning and spend it with my boyfriend's family. That means opening crappy presents like bars of soap from hotels, along with the nice gifts, and attempt to show the same appreciation. They like to mock the commercialism and rib each other in the process. We'll leave Maine in a few days and swing down to Boston to visit online friends (Quechan and Chobee, if Doc reads this). They recently had a little girl. And then it's finally back home to Ohio, where I will weep over how much money we spent, although in my defense a lot of the spending went towards an interview suit.

Merry Christmas all. Oh I miss my laptop!

Well this christ mass I plan to play country music records backwards at varying speeds so that I might communicate with the devil! In reality the only holidays i like happen to be the fourth of July and Halloween. What I will be doing during this period of ritual is engaging with other bots in the trading of various materials for love and affection hopefully, beyond that I will probably be with me family. I hope everyone has happy holy days and purchases much hydrocarbons!

When I first read this, I thought, "What! The futures market is open?"

I just had my first Christmas dinner, well more like dunch. My parents are making the rounds with all their children spread across the nation and we are first because we live in the same town. Kids already got to open a few gifts so the excitement has increased, so much so my 8 yr old informed me at 7pm tonight she was going to bed so she could sleep one day closer to Christmas, I love the holidays!

We will spend the real Christmas at home trying to eat this massive ham I got for free from my meat distributor, may take all 12 days of Christmas.

Happy Christmas

We opened on present for each of the three kids this morning. I ended a Christmas month moratorium on buying alcohol for mommy and daddy and loaded the "Christmas" spirit in the house. We are staying home, opening presents and eating an early meal. If some extended family members agree to come over this afternoon and tote in the new nephew, we will eat the hame tonight.

Fun will be had by all. My children will spend at least one more year playing with toys predominantly made in China, and I may try to by less from that country next year.

Until a few days ago my kids were the only grandkids for seven out of eigfht grandparents. A little too much holiday cheer comes our way every year in part because the g-parents are too spread out around the country to be nearby.

My husband and I just opened our presents to each other. It's the first Christmas as a married couple, so there was an extra happy element added to the occasion. Then the cats got to play with the wrapping paper, so it was a joyous event for everybody.

In a few hours we'll be heading to my grandmother's house, where there's a buffet about ten feet long, and everyone will be drunk. As a former drinker, I now find it entertaining to watch the circus that is my booze-swilling family. Actually, that's too harsh---they're all great people who just like to eat, drink and be merry on the holidays.

For Christmas Day, we'll be going to my husband's brother's house for more food. By the 26th, I expect we'll both be in the morbidly---albeit temporary---obese category of BMI's, and will have to use our Christmas bonuses from work to buy all new fat people clothing.

Merry Christmas to all, and may you all stuff yourselves silly with good food!

Got a sick wife and daughter--both temperamental at the best of times. I will enjoy the holiday after having my appeal of a termination from the bestest job ever reversed--after proving yet again it was not justified. Made all the easier after my 2 immediate overlord bosses who put me in the situation were both arrested by the Feds for possesion of stolen property and several growing interstate theft charges-- enjoy the holidays you 2, If only I knew where to send the cigarettes to the right people for your showertime.

but I am not bitter.

I was able to get my bonuses that were due and keep my bills from going south. Even managed to get some goodies for the kiddies. Nowhere near what we had planned for christmas but the sigh of relief helps ease the anger.

We are a big Christmas family and love the holiday. House looks like a christmas display disaster event at times.

Small family get together, my family is 1800 miles to the east. Food Food food - as in prime rib for my carnivore bretheren.


Cool Yule all.

My wife and I with our 3 youngins' in tow (6 yro, 4 yro, and 5 month old) have been spending the last 4 days with her parents in Arnold, MD. (just out of Annapolis). We made the cross country trek from Phoenix back on Wed. We'll be here until Fri. hoping to escape the 2nd wave of holiday traffic at the airports. We'll make a day trek down into Virginia on Wednesday to visit my maternal uncle and his fam. That will leave only one more whole day before we get to leave the in-laws...

So far so good . . .

Had fun today cooking up seafood stuff in various configurations. Tomorrow will be leftovers of a most delectable delight, and no bloated feelings.

Thought I was being original doing seafood. Safeway was bursting with king crab and massive scallops. Ha! Original my dry white wine sauce.

Lydia asked if I wanted to fight for old time's sake. I told her, "NO! AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!"

So far so good . . .